Pay Seen as Key to Kicking Broader Recovery Into Higher Gear

Economists are increasingly looking for wage growth to pick up in coming months, a long-awaited development that would put more money in the pockets of consumers and could spur accelerated growth in the broader economy.

According to The Wall Street Journal's monthly survey of 48 economists—not all of whom answered every question—real gross domestic product is growing at an annual rate of 3.5% this quarter after contracting at least...